UTEP First School to Offer Atlanta’s Tristan Allen

Atlanta linebacker Tristan Allen has become the 25th player in East Texas' 2017 recruiting class to receive a Division I FBS offer.

Allen (6-3, 206) tweeted news Wednesday morning of his first D-I scholarship opportunity from UTEP.

The deep pool of talent this cycle for East Texas continues to reveal itself. With 25 players already with FBS offers, the 2017 class is poised to make a run at the 2014 group, which featured 32 FBS signees. The area produced 25 and 22 FBS signees in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

UTEP also reached out to Tatum LB D'Torian Smith on Tuesday.

The Miners compete in Conference USA and are coached by Sean Kugler, who will be entering his third season in charge this fall. UTEP is coming off a 5-7 campaign in 2015.

Allen has been a key cog to Atlanta's success in each of the last two seasons. In 2014 and 2015, he helped the Rabbits reach the Class 4A Division II quarterfinals and a combined 21-7 record.

At the fourth annual ETSN.fm + APEC Football Recruiting Combine in Tyler on May 22, Allen was among the top linebackers in attendance.

The Rabbits' playmaker earned honorable mention recognition in his position group. Allen ran a laser-timed 4.69 40-yard dash (third-fastest among LB's), had a 34-inch vertical jump (best among LB's), and excelled during pass-rushing drills.

Atlanta will share a district with Gilmer -- the team that has eliminated it from the playoffs the previous two seasons -- the next couple years. District 7-4A Division II will also include Gladewater, Pittsburg, Pleasant Grove, and Spring Hill.

Allen, like all high school football prospects about to enter their senior year, will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him on Feb. 1, 2017.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Tristan Allen, Atlanta, LB, 6-3, 206 -- offer from UTEP (1)
• Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, Navy, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM, UTSA, Wyoming (13)
• Noah Bush, Athens, LB, 6-1, 216 — offers from Air Force, Army (2)
• Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
• Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Texas, Ole Miss, SMU, Syracuse, UTSA, TCU, Texas A&M, Tulsa (18)
• Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR/DB, 6-2, 180 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (12)
• Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (7)
• Ted Fuller, Harleton, RB, 5-11, 195 — offers from ULM, Wyoming (2)
• Tre Gatlin, Carthage, DE, 6-6, 210 —offer from Wyoming (1)
• Austin Hawley, Gladewater, DB, 6-1, 200 — offer from ULM (1)
• Kollin Hurt, Gilmer, DB, 6-3, 175 — offers from Louisiana Tech, ULM (2)
• Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — committed to Air Force (1)
• Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-9, 186 — offers from Army, Colorado, Navy, SMU, Tulane, ULL (6)
• Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Oklahoma State; Ole Miss; SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (11)
• LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Texas Tech, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (11)
• Javontavius Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — committed to UTSA; additional offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Memphis, North Texas, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, ULL, ULM (10)
• Cade Pearson, Texas High, QB, 6-3, 193 — offer from Wyoming (1)
• Dhailon Phillips, Lufkin, WR, 6-3, 195 — offer from Texas State (1)
• Kordell Rodgers, Lufkin, QB/ATH, 5-10, 165 — offers from Arkansas State, Texas State, ULM (3)
• Makyle Sanders, Tyler Lee, S, 6-1, 177 — offers from Memphis, Navy (2)
• Bryson Smith, John Tyler, QB/ATH, 6-0, 170 — committed to Houston; additional offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Memphis, New Mexico, North Texas, Purdue, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Tulane, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (16)
• D’Torian Smith, Tatum, LB, 6-3, 225 — offers from Air Force, UTEP (2)
• Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oregon, SMU, Texas Tech (13)
• Josh Thompson, Nacogdoches, CB, 6-0, 182 — offered by Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, North Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane, ULM, Utah, UTSA, Washington State, Wyoming (21)
• Traveion Webster, Longview, S, 6-0, 197 — offered by ULM (1)